Hide caption House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 4, 2017. Pelosi called Wednesday for an independent panel to investigate possible contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Pelosi pushes for special panel on Russia probe; Dakota Access pipeline leaked 84 gallons of oil in April; DeVos booed speaking at historically black university; US risks a backlash for its growing role in Syrian conflict. By from wire reports Pelosi pushes for special panel on Russia probe WASHINGTON — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is threatening to use a parliamentary maneuver to force a vote on a bill that would create an independent panel to investigate possible contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. Pelosi says in a letter Wednesday to House Democrats that they’ll file a discharge petition if Speaker Paul Ryan doesn’t call up the legislation “immediately upon our return next week.” The House is on recess this week. A discharge petition allows a measure to be brought straight to the floor, bypassing consideration by committee. But successes are rare through this approach because a majority of House members must sign the petition. Pelosi says the “fireworks at the Department of Justice demand that we remove the investigation from the Trump-appointed Justice Department leadership.” Dakota Access pipeline leaked 84 gallons of oil in April BISMARCK, N.D. — The Dakota Access pipeline leaked 84 gallons…